In case you didn’t know, the first space tourists will likely be blasting off in Virgin Galactic space shuttles by the end of the year. Well, if you’d rather keep it real slash keep your feet firmly on the ground (and don’t have US$250, 000 membership fee to join this very exclusive club), check out 5 other travel trends you can actually indulge in for 2014.
The Best Deals on Earth
Forget Rodeo Drive, Avenue Montaigne, or Bond Street – we have two words for you shopaholics of all types: outlet tourism. We can’t think of a better way to combine our love of bargain hunting and travel, so if you ever find yourself in NYC, take a bus from Midtown to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
In Europe? FoxTown Factory Store in Switzerland and The Mall in Italy are your best bets. Closer to home, we have Johor Premium Outlets across the border but honestly, we like Gotemba Premium Outlets a lot better (the view of Mount Fuji from here is amazing!)
Emirates Wolgan Valley
All-Inclusive
If you’re tired of getting whacked around the head with a hefty bill at the end of a cruise or a jaunt at a resort (how in the world did the kids rack those up?), it’s time to go all-inclusive. More places are catching on to the Club Med (forever the pioneer) model, which works great if you’re travelling with the little ones. Even hotel chains like Hyatt are rolling out all-inclusive hotels like Hyatt Zilara Cancun and Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos in Mexico.
Looking for a romantic spot? Try Chiva Som in Hua Hin, Thailand. There are some all-inclusive luxury resorts in Australia – Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania and Emirates Wolgan Valley in New South Wales – that offer a change from our tropical scenery if you don’t fancy spending a full day on the plane.
Shangri-La Paris
Nuts For Sports
2014 is helluva year for international sports tourism. When we add the Winter Olympics in Sochi and the FIFA World Cup in Brazil to the list of annual sports events like Wimbledon, the Monaco Grand Prix, the New York Marathon, and Tour de France, saying a lot of people will be travelling to catch their favourite sport in action is an understatement.
The folks at Shangri-La have put together a Roland-Garros VIP package for you (rich) tennis fans to live the Parisian Dream during the French Open. This all-inclusive 2D1N package includes meals and a one-day ticket (either boxes or category 1) to catch the action on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
Noorderlicht
All At Sea
Cruises? It’s been there, done that for loads of you. Expect seafaring adventures to feature more exotic destinations, intriguing itineraries and immersive experiences this year! Instead of sailing past icebergs on an Alaskan luxury cruise liner, book a sailing trip on the Noorderlicht (a beautiful, century old schooner) around Spitsbergen and catch polar bears in action. Alternatively, sail around Disko Bay in Greenland to catch the Aurora Borealis and whales.
Too cool for you? With Lindblad-National Geographic Expeditions, you could be seeing Galapagos as Darwin did – how awesome is that! If you like Mother Nature with a side of history and culture, opt for the South American East Coast instead.
The French Connection
Now that everyone’s done Eastern Europe, we’re not surprised that the glamorous resort locale is the French Riviera (or Côte d’Azur). Oui, the places you would have found Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot, and Sophia Loren – like Nice (try Hotel Negresco), Monaco, Monte Carlo, and St Tropez (we like Hotel La Ponche) – in the 1960s are back in fashion.
You’re not limited to the coastal areas, of course. The French, Italian, and Swiss Alps are getting their swag back with a bevy of new hotels. Check out W Verbier and The Chedi in Andermatt. Head to Rome, rent a Vespa and explore this historical city à la Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday.
Top Image: Paris When It Sizzles